Categories: OLD Media Moves

CNBC’s “The Profit” has ratings tumble

After a decent premiere a week ago, CNBC’s new weekly primetime business-makeover reality show “The Profit” took a tumble in the ratings Tuesday, reports Rick Kissell of Variety.

Kissell writes, “Nielsen estimates that ‘The Profit,’ in which entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis pumps his own cash into a struggling business in a bid to turn it around, averaged 56,000 viewers in the adults 25-54 demo in its second episode — down a steep 64% from the 157,000 it pulled for its premiere. It held up better in total viewers, but the show’s overall audience of 173,000 still represented a 32% decline from the premiere’s 254,000.

“By comparison, in the month of July, stripped weeknight series ‘American Greed’ averaged 112,000 adults 25-54 and 252,000 viewers overall in the same 10 o’clock hour for CNBC. And in the 11 p.m. hour during July, ‘Mad Money’ averaged 41,000 adults 25-54 and 103,000 viewers overall.

“‘The Profit’ is CNBC’s latest attempt at finding an unscripted hit, having yanked ‘Crowd Rules’ in May after just two low-rated outings. ‘Crowd Rules’ premiered to a mere 47,000 viewers, though, so by that low bar, ‘The Profit’ is still looking OK.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.

View Comments

  • Why is treasure detectives not back? It got the best reviews and the best ratings out of all 4 new CNBC shows? Are they not offering curtis dowling enough to come back?

  • I just discovered this show!! LOVE it!! Great advise that can be transferred to all businesses!! Perhaps it was not marketed prior to premier! I will watch it every week!!! Excellent education. Wish I could get Marcus Lemonis to "partner" with me to open a business!!! With him involved in a business, it cannot help but succeed!! Just have to leave your ego at the door!!

    Please don't cancel and market it so people know of it's existence!

  • The Profit is on the wrong channel. It gets a bad rap cuz of the garbage on the rest of the NBC brand. Mathews, Cramer, The Profit , good shows that get smothered by the garbage from Sharpton, Maddow and Hayes... so sad

  • I watched the episode of Flowers and Popcorn store. Really loved it and looking fwd to next episode on Tuesday. There are some good Business tips to be learnt from this show..Love it !!

  • This is actually a great show. Me and my husband love it. It better not get cancelled!

  • Great show! Love this guy Marcus - he's the perfect business advisor/partner with both business savy/marketing sense, toughness and great insight into people. They should be showing this in MBA courses. Hope to buy the season episode on DVD; please don't cancel this show!

  • Keep the show going, just need show more success stories, prescreen the businesses make sure they leave there own ego out the door and grow up and learn from someone that has been there.

  • just love, love this show. in fact i was thinking of canceling the cable until by accident run in this show (CNBC has not done a good job to advertise this show, shockingly).
    I learn so much just by watching this show. I wish I could ask Marcus to how I can work for him. what a great mentor and leader. what a sensible and kind guy (i know that is hard comination with the money).
    please show this in more time spot. can not wait for the new season. i have already let many of my friends and family know about this show, which none of them ever heard about this show.
    i will be watching this show with my chidren.
    Marcus, thanks for this great show and inspiration.

  • Why would CNBC even think about cancelling the best show it has on the air. The Profit, plain and simple,
    leave it on!

  • The Profit is extremely interesting if you are interested in business I wish you would give it a season 2 to allow time for the audience to grow. Seinfeld wasn't wildly popular until around season 3 or 4! C'mon bring it back please!

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